Cedar Rapids police responded to an incident that led to a standoff negotiation this morning.

According to a report issued by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, officers reported to the 4100 block of 31st Ave SW at 6:27 a.m. on Saturday, January 12 where a driver was allegedly attempting to elude officers.

The report states that the driver — Austin Pieper, 30 — did not cooperate with the officers’ requests to yield and at one point told the officers to “shoot him.”

The officers attempted a standoff negotiation which was unsuccessful, and led to the officers deploying “pepper balls,” which are pepper spray filled pellets.

Pieper then attempted to drive away and officers proceeded to deploy “stop sticks” which disabled the vehicle.

Pieper ultimately drove through grass, and stopped after striking a cement pillar, the report states.

Pieper has been arrested and faces charges of operating while intoxicated, attempting to elude, failure to maintain control, and interference with official acts.

The Gazette

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